Federal Hotel built on the spirit of Merdeka

Federal Hotel celebrates its 50th anniversary 

JUST three days before Malaya gained her independence in 1957, the late Tan Sri Low Yat rushed to complete our country’s first international class hotel, built to house foreign dignitaries coming to witness the historic celebration. 

The hotel situated in the heart of Bukit Bintang celebrated its 50th anniversary recently.  

A re-enactment of how Tunku Abdul Rahman launched the hotel 50 years ago was staged at the hotel’s Mandarin Palace restaurant. 

For a charitable cause: Low Yat Group chairman Low Yow Chuan (left) presenting the RM2mil pledge toSt John Ambulance Malaysia national president Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick and St John Ambulance MalaysiaSelangor coastal area president Datuk Lim Lee Cheng while Abdullah looks on.

“The hotel was developed and built from the foresight and pioneering spirit of my father, the late Tan Sri Low Yat, as well as with the support and encouragement from the government and personal support from our nation’s founding fathers, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and the late Tun Razak,” said Federal Hotels International managing director Low Gee Tat who read the speech on behalf of his father Tan Sri Low Yow Chuan. 

In his speech, the senior Low said that he was only 23 and was about to embark on his university education overseas when the hotel project started. 

Beautiful:A fireworksdisplay held aspart of the hotel’sanniversarycelebration.

However, he said the spirit of Merdeka and the hope of realising the dreams of a free and independent country was such a powerful and strong incentive that it pulled him back from Australia. 

“I cut short my architectural studies to assist my father in the management of the construction project, as he was under tremendous pressure not only to complete Federal Hotel but also the construction of other government projects of the period,” said Low during the celebrations recently. 

The night started off with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah signing the hotel’s 50th anniversary guest book before proceeding to view photographs from the 1957 album, a project by The StarMetro, Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Federal Hotels International. 

Sharing the joy: Federal Hotels International managing director LowGee Tat, Low Yat Group chairman Tan Sri Low Yow Chuan, StarPublications (M) Bhd executive director and group chief operatingofficer Datin Linda Ngiam and Low Yat Group executive director Low

They were then ushered to the banquet hall where invited guests were seated to dine on dishes from the Tunku’s Kitchen cookbook while being entertained by Fauziah Latiff, Tan Soo Suan and Ramli Ibrahim. 

During the celebration, Low Yat Group Foundation presented a RM2mil pledge to St JohnAmbulance Malaysia.  

“We are here today as lucky beneficiaries of our founding elders’ hard work and sacrifices. We should thus not forget the legacy and vision and of course the blood, sweat and tears that was shed for the creation of this multiracial nation,” said Low.